Hersekli Ahmed Paşa
Encyclopedia
Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha or Hersekli Ahmed Pasha or Ahmed Hercegović (Bosnian
, Croatian
,Serbian
: Stjepan Hercegović) was a Bosnian/Croatian
Ottoman
general and statesman from Herzegovina
.
(Herzog
) of Bosnia
from the house of Kosača. His half-sister was Catherine of Bosnia (Queen of Bosnia). Since 1470, after converting to Islam
, Stjepan Hercegović was called Ahmed-pasa Hersekzade. Hersekli Ahmed Pasha was great-grandson of Croatian nobelman Dragiša Vukčić who was brother of Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić (Ban of Croatia
, Grand Duke of Bosnia
and a Herzog of Split).
and Grand Admiral to the Sultan
. He was the first great vizier of Bosnia several times in the period from 1497 to 1515. He was married in 1482 to Fatima, daughter of Sultan Bayezid II
, and he left descendants. He died of natural causes, toward the end of the reign of Selim I
.
and there they converted to Islam. Some sources claim it was her half-brother Hersekli Ahmed Pasha, who organised for the children to be taken to Istanbul
and under whose patronage Katarina's son, now called Ishak-beg Kraloglu (Kraljević), became quite influential.
Bosnian language
Bosnian is a South Slavic language, spoken by Bosniaks. As a standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect, it is one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
,Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
: Stjepan Hercegović) was a Bosnian/Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
general and statesman from Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
.
Family connections
Hersekli Ahmed Pasha (Stjepan Hercegović) was son of Stjepan Vukčić KosačaStjepan Vukcic Kosaca
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava...
(Herzog
Herzog (name)
Herzog is a German hereditary title held by one who rules a territorial duchy, exercises feudal authority over an estate called a duchy, or possesses a right, by law or tradition, to be referred to by the ducal title. The word is usually translated by the English duke and the Latin Dux. Generally,...
) of Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
from the house of Kosača. His half-sister was Catherine of Bosnia (Queen of Bosnia). Since 1470, after converting to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Stjepan Hercegović was called Ahmed-pasa Hersekzade. Hersekli Ahmed Pasha was great-grandson of Croatian nobelman Dragiša Vukčić who was brother of Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić (Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia was the title of local rulers and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in...
, Grand Duke of Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
and a Herzog of Split).
Grand Vizier
Hersekli Ahmed Pasha was Grand VizierGrand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
and Grand Admiral to the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
. He was the first great vizier of Bosnia several times in the period from 1497 to 1515. He was married in 1482 to Fatima, daughter of Sultan Bayezid II
Bayezid II
Bayezid II or Sultân Bayezid-î Velî was the oldest son and successor of Mehmed II, ruling as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512...
, and he left descendants. He died of natural causes, toward the end of the reign of Selim I
Selim I
Selim I, Yavuz Sultân Selim Khan, Hâdim-ül Haramain-ish Sharifain , nicknamed Yavuz "the Stern" or "the Steadfast", but often rendered in English as "the Grim" , was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to...
.
Legend
Children of Katarina Kosača (Queen of Bosnia) were taken to TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and there they converted to Islam. Some sources claim it was her half-brother Hersekli Ahmed Pasha, who organised for the children to be taken to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and under whose patronage Katarina's son, now called Ishak-beg Kraloglu (Kraljević), became quite influential.